Original Research

Outcomes of Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy in Patients with Anomalous Kidney

10.4274/jus.1441

  • Mehmet Yoldaş
  • Cemal Selçuk İşoğlu
  • Tufan Süelözgen
  • Hakan Türk
  • Mustafa Karabıçak
  • Batuhan Ergani
  • Hayal Boyacıoğlu
  • Yusuf Özlem İlbey

Received Date: 14.04.2017 Accepted Date: 08.08.2017 J Urol Surg 2017;4(4):167-170

Objective

To evaluate the success and complication rate of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) performed in patients with congenital anomalies such as horseshoe kidneys, crossed renal ectopia and renal malrotation.

Materials and Methods

Data of 1472 patients who underwent PNL operation in our clinic between January 2007 and January 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. PNL was performed in 28 renal units of 26 patients with congenital renal anomalies. Demographic data of the patients, type of congenital renal anomalies, success rate of PNL and complications were evaluated.

Results

Out of 28 PNL-performed renal units, 14 were found out to be with fusion and 14 with rotation anomalies. The average age of the patients was 53 (±1.97) years, 19 were male and 7 were female with an average stone size of 515 (±87.4) mm2. The average operating time was 109 (±11.0) minutes and fluoroscopy time was 191 (±48.4) seconds. The stone-free rate detected postoperatively by computed tomography was 55%. Complications included postoperative fever in 3 patients, postoperative arteriovenous fistula in 1 patient, and intraoperative colon injury in 1 patient.

Conclusion

PNL is a safe and effective method in the treatment of stones in kidneys with congenital anomalies. Keywords: Anomalous kidneys, complication, percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Keywords: Anomalous kidneys,complication,percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Introduction

Clinical approach to kidney stones in abnormal kidneys is regarded as a specific and difficult case in urology practice. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) is the gold standard treatment method for kidney stones larger than 2 cm (1). However, it is not established yet for stones that occur in rare cases such as horseshoe kidney, renal malrotation, crossed renal ectopia, and pelvic kidneys.

As for patients with a kidney anomaly, the goal of the treatment for kidney stones is to render the patient free of stone with highest treatment performance and lowest complication rates, as it is for kidneys with normal anatomy. In this study, we evaluated the success rates and complications of PNL that we performed in patients with renal anomalies.


Materials and Methods

A total of 1472 patients, who underwent PNL in our clinic between January 2007 and January 2015, were retrospectively analysed. A total of 26 patients with renal abnormalities (28 renal units) whose data were appropriate and complete were included in the study. Of these, PNL was performed in 14 renal units with fusion anomaly (13 horseshoe kidney, 1 crossed renal ectopia with fusion) and in 14 renal units with rotation anomaly.

All patients were evaluated with non-contrast abdominal computed tomography (CT) preoperatively and informed consent was obtained from patients before the surgery.

Surgical Procedure

Complete blood count, biochemical tests, coagulation tests and urine culture were performed in all patients preoperatively. Appropriate antibiotic treatment was given to patients with positive urinary cultures and they were operated when they had sterile urine cultures. The patient was placed in the prone position after a 6 Fr open-ended  catheter was inserted through the urethra via cystoscopy while in the lithotomy position. The procedure was performed under general anesthesia. Following the injection of a contrast agent via the urethral catheter, an access needle was introduced into the renal collecting system through the appropriate calyx under fluoroscopic guidance. After placement of the guiding catheter, the Amplatz dilator set was used in order to create the tract, first with a 6 Fr dilator followed by a 28-30 Fr dilator, using the single step method. If necessary, a second access was created with the same method. The stones were removed by using a 24 Fr nephroscope and an ultrasonic lithotripter. A 14 Fr re-entry Malecot catheter was routinely inserted after the operation was terminated. The stone-free status of the patients was evaluated 1 month after surgery with non-contrast abdominal CT.


Results

The average age of the patients was 53 (±1.97) years; 19 were male and 7 were female. Of patients with horseshoe kidney anomaly, 5 had stones in the right kidney, 3 in the left kidney, and 4 in both kidneys. Among 4 patients with bilateral kidney stones, PNL operation was performed only in one patient in different sessions. Of patients with rotational kidney anomaly, 7 had stones in the left kidney, 6 in the right kidney, and 1 in both kidneys. For patient with rotation anomaly and bilateral kidney stones, PNL was performed in the left kidney and extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy in the right kidney. The average stone size in 2 dimensional measurements was 812.5 mm2 in kidneys with horseshoe abnormalities while it was 600 mm2 in kidneys with rotational abnormalities and 300 mm2 in crossed renal ectopia (Table 1).

Access was achieved to the stones in anomalous kidneys by a single access in 21 of 28 renal units and by double access in 7 renal units, out of which 3 had horseshoe anomaly and 4 had rotational anomaly. Out of 10 kidneys with horseshoe anomaly, 5 single intercostal accesses were performed in the upper calyx group of the kidney. In one patient with crossed fused renal ectopia, single subcostal access to mid-calyx group was performed. Single access was performed to 10 out of 14 kidneys with rotation anomaly; namely 5 subcostal accesses to mid-calyx group, 4 subcostal accesses to upper calyx group and 1 intercostal access to upper calyx group (Table 2).

The mean operation and fluoroscopy time and length of hospital stay are noted in Table 3. CT scans taken at postoperative 1st month showed residual stones in 6 of 13 (53% success) horseshoe kidneys. Residual stone was detected in the patient with crossed renal ectopia and in 5 of 14 renal units with rotational anomalies (64% success). 1.55 gr/dL decrease of hemoglobin (Hb) was determined in patients with horseshoe kidney, 5.2 gr/dL in the patient with crossed renal ectopia and 0.9 gr/dL in those with rotational renal anomalies. After discharge, 3 patients were hospitalized again; one with horseshoe kidney due to fever, one with crossed renal ectopia due to fever and recurrent hematuria, and one with rotational anomaly due to fever. The patient with recurrent hematuria was diagnosed with arteriovenous (AV) fistula and treated with superselective embolization. Colon injury was developed in a patient with rotational anomaly and the patient was treated conservatively. None of the patients developed sepsis and required any post-operative intensive care (Table 3).


Discussion

Anomalies of fusion are the most common type among renal anomalies and horseshoe kidney is the most common type of fusion anomalies. It occurs in about 1/400 live births in the general population (2).

The final position of the adult kidney in the renal fossa is defined as the positioning of the kidney with an orientation of the renal calyces to outwards (the lateral) and the renal pelvis to inwards (the medial). When this positioning is not complete, then it is called malrotation. One autopsy series reported 1 in 939 cases (2,3).

Crossed fused renal ectopia refers to an anomaly that the kidney is located on the opposite side where its ureter inserts into the bladder. This type is divided into two groups as fused or unfused and also into sub-grubs among themselves according to the form of the anomaly. Its incidence is generally estimated to be 1 in 1.000 live births (2,4).

In patients with renal abnormalities, urinary stasis and infection due to abnormal localization of the renal pelvis and ureter as well as abnormal vascularization lead to stone formation (2).

Technically, PNL operation in a kidney with anomaly is a surgical application that creates concern for urologists. The main factors of difficulty include selecting the appropriate calyx and a suitable angulation for the access and operation within an unusual pelvicalyceal system. Its abnormal relationship with the surrounding organs and its abnormal vascularization, yet requiring abnormal angulation in accessing an abnormal pelvicalyceal, may increase the risk of injury in the surrounding organs and major veins. Most of the horseshoe kidneys reside lower in the abdomen than normal kidneys and intercostal accesses to reach upper- or mid-calyces are needed less than in normal kidneys. For the most reliable access to a horseshoe kidney, the upper calyx group, particularly far posterior and medial calyces should be preferred. Lower pole access is not recommended because the lower calyx group is located medially and anteriorly and in close proximity to the main vessels (5). In our cases, 5 of 16 accesses were intercostal and complications such as pneumothorax and hidrotorax and any pulmonary complications were not seen in any of our patients (6). Abnormal anatomic relationships of the abnormal kidney with the surrounding organs should always be kept in mind by the surgeon. Additionally, in our cases with rotation anomaly, the incidence of injuries to the adjacent organs such as the colon was relatively higher than in normal kidneys. This occurs as a result of incomplete development of the lateroconal fascia of the retrorenal colon and failure of the kidney to attain the place where it should be and its replacement by colon instead (7). Radio-anatomical evaluation by noncontrast abdominal CT imaging is recommended for all patients in order to prevent possible injury to the adjacent organs (8). The management in a possible colon injury includes withdrawing the nephrostomy slightly to provide it to serve as a drain for the injured region, placing a ureteral stent, and initiating parenteral antibiotherapy as a conservative approach (7). In the group with rotation anomaly, one patient had a colon injury and was treated conservatively. Another handicap originates from abnormal placement of renal vessels, which can result in injury to major vessels, AV fistula and pseudoaneurysms. Only one of our patients experienced vascular injury and this resulted in an AV fistula and treated successfully with superselective embolisation.

In a study of 52 renal anomalies including 31 horseshoes kidneys, 4 crossed ectopia, 7 rotation anomalies and 4 ectopic kidneys, Gupta et al. (9) reported that the mean hospital stay was 3.2 days and the average decrease in Hb was 1.4 g/dL. Mosavi-Bahar et al. (10) reported their own PNL series performed in 7 horseshoes, 5 rotation anomalies, 3 ectopic kidneys and noted length of hospital stay of 3 days and 1.7 g/dL decrease of Hb. The average hospital stay was 3 days and average decrease of Hb was 1.7 g/dL in our study, which is similar to the literature.

Gupta et al. (9) reported a success rate of 86% in the first attempt. The success rate was evaluated by using spot graphics in their study. The success rate in our study was 57%. Stone-free status was assessed by abdominopelvic CT in our study so this may explain the difference between success rates.

Study Limitations

The main limitations of the study include its retrospective design, the fact that surgeries were not performed by the same surgeon, and the relatively low number of patients.


Conclusion

Patients with renal malformation can be treated with PNL safely and effectively.

Ethics

Ethics Committee Approval: Retrospective study.

Informed Consent: Consent form was filled out by all participants.

Peer-review: Externally peer-reviewed.

Authorship Contributions

Surgical and Medical Practices: T.S., Concept: C.S.İ., Design: M.Y., Data Collection or Processing: B.E., H.T., Analysis or Interpretation: H.B., Y.Ö.İ., Literature Search: M.K., Writing: T.S., C.S.İ.

Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

Financial Disclosure: The authors declared that this study received no financial support.


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